Method of making closures



Aug. 14, 1934. J. P; BURKE METHOD P' MAKING CLOSURES original Filed oct.23, 19:51

Patented Aug. 14, 1934 UNITEDl STATES PATENT OFFICE A1,969,777 IIETHODOF MAKING CLOSURES James P. XBurke, Knoxville, Tenn., assignor toKept-Kant, Inc'., Knoxville, Tenn., a corporation of Delaware 12 Claims.

This invention relates to methods of making and assembling closures withparticular reference to collapsible tubes.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved method of makingor interengaging a plurality of relatively rotatable elements such as 'atubular element and a valve cap thereon, whereby the element is pressedor spun into snug seating contact with the cap and/or an outwardprojecting annular portion formed in the element for snugly engagingthroughout in a corresponding recess or undercut in the cap, -whereby toafford a liquid tight locking engagement for the cap, or a severableorifice forming projection.

Other objects and'advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novelcombinations and orders 'of method steps hereinafter described in theirpreferred embodiments pointed out in the subjoined claims, and.illustrated on the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated bytheA same referencecharacters throughout the several 'views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view inelevation showing a device made according to theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the device taken at anangle to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the device.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a step in the method of making thedevice.

Fig. 6 is a view with parts in section showing a subsequent step in themethod of making the device, and the apparatus employed, with partsremoved. A

Fig. 'l is a sectional view taken on line 7 -7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a still further enlarged sectional view showing the device incourse of manufacture.

Fig. 9 is a further modication of an application of the method.

The advantages of the invention. as here. outlined are best realizedwhen all of its features are `combined in one and the same process, but,useful methods may be produced embodying less than 5 the whole. v

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains, that thesame may be employed to produce several derentconsin'uctions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted asshowing the preferred product of the invention.

This application is a division of application, Serial No. 570,741, ledOctober 23rd, 1931, on

Containers.

It has heretofore been knownto provide rotatable valve closures forcollapsible tubes, with the closures held on by a detent or sprung overa suitable projection on the tube. In such devices, auxiliary means arefound necessary to prevent occurrence of leakage between the closure andthe part of the tube sleeved therein, as, for example, special resilientinserts at the valve opening, or cams for drawing the closure snuglyagainst the tube part in the closed position. By my invention thesefeatures are eliminated, whereby the device may be much more cheaplyTriade, `in quantity production, and without permitting leakage, and soas to be substantially liquidtight for the materials handled in thecollapsible tubes.

Generally described, I utilize my novel method to provide a collapsibletube having a substantially cylindrical portion of reduced diameterprovided with a closed hemispherical end. Upon this is placed a cap ofsimilar contour and having an internal annular coaxial groove. The tubepart is interiorly expanded as by spinning concentrically oreccentricallyto forcey a ridge into said groove, the expansion causingthe tube part to uniformly snugly seat in the cap in a liquid tightmanner. Simultaneously the hemispherical end may also be spun orexpanded to snugly contact the inside face of the cap to afford a tightvalve seat at the outlet openings that may be provided at a suitablestep in the manufacture of the device. Thus in one operation the cap isby causing the desired expansion, with or without spinning. According toanother exemplication of the invention, the method may also be practisedAwith a device wherein the port is subsequently formed, as by piercing aportion of the hemispherical end, or by forming the latter with aprojection adapted to be sheared by the cap to afford a port. The saidprojection may be formed separately or simultaneously, but in each casethe cap may be seated and attached in one operation.

Referring in detail to the drawing,I 10 denotes a device produced by theinvention. The same may include a tubular device such as a collapsiblecontainer 11 having a neck portion 12 of reduced diameter. The containerand its neck portion may be of any conventional construction and mayconsist of a soft ductile or pliable metal. Prefer- 'ably the neckportion is of substantially cylin'driand made of any material, such asmetal, bakelite,

or other relatively strong or nonductile material. Interiorly the capfits the neck portion snugly. To retain the cap on the neck portion,thel cap may have an internalpreformed undercut or annular groove 16into which a corresponding annular flange or ridge 17 of the neckportion may be spun or depressed for a snug and somewhat resilientengagement. The location of this lineof engagement may be intermediateof the ends of the closure 15, and preferably ln suitable prox'- imityto the end 13 which may act as ay re-enforcement for the ridge 17. Inthis manner, moreover, the closure may be made with a minimum length.The groove and ridge engagement also serves to retain the curved end 18of'the cap in snug contact with the corresponding part 13. It will benoted that the ridge and groove have a plurality of curves formingsubstantially a U in shape to assure a uniform and ample area oflcontact.

The end portion of the neck may have an opening 19 offset from thecenter, and the closure may have a corresponding opening 20 adapted toregister-therewith. Between the portions 13 and 18` is the snug `valveseating surface 20a for the openings 19 and 20. At 21, the closure maybeoutwardly flaredfrom the opening 20.

The lower part of the closure may have 'an enlarged finger grip portion22. Within the same' there may be an arcuate recess 23 for receiving thestop 14 and the ends of the recess dening stop faces of an angularlyelongated sho 24,-for abutment with the stop 14, and whereby e open andclosed positions of the cap are determined.

The device above described is particularly characterized by the factthat the-interlocking engagement at 16, 17 forms a seal whichsupplementsthe seal at the surface 20a. 'Ihe latter is likewise rendered snugpreferably by outward pressing orspinning of the hemisphericaleport'ion13 simultaneously with the formation of the annular projection 1'7.IIhus, not only is any tendency overcome of collapsing the part 13downward due to the outward pressure at 17, but the part 13 is actuallypositively outwardly pressed for an individual fit with the cap.

In manufacturing the device, 'the cap may be initially provided with theopening 20 bounded by anangularedge 25 terminatinginthearen. A tubularneck portion. 12, having a uniform side wall 26 is placed therein. Thenthe neck portion is interiorly spun to expand the same to form the ridge17 and simultaneously to press the heini-'- spherical part 13 for a goodvalve seat with the corresponding cap part18. The opening 19 may havebeen previously formed or may now be drilled, and the opening 20 reamedto eliminate any burr and thereby form the straight edges 27 for theopening 20. v

Any suitable means such as 28 may be used to effect the spinning of theneck portion. 'Ihus a'. tool may be utilized having a head 29 providedwith a centering or tapering end 30 that may be hemispherical and ofsuitable size to snugly fit the end of the neck portin. This head may behollow and may have a laterally projectible element or pin 31 slidablyfitted in a hole in the wall thereof. Suitable means may be provided foractuating the head and pin. Thus a spindle 32 may extend into the headand may have means such as a tapering end or cone 33 for actuating thepin by laterally bearing on a head 34 thereof as a result of relativelylongitudinal sliding movement of the head 29 and the stem 32 or a partthereof. The provision of the head 34 prevents the element 3l fromleaving the head 29. To limit the'relative movement of the parts 29,432, the former may have a slot 35 and the latter a pin 36, movabletherealong. In this manner rotation may be imparted to the head 29 bythe spindle.

Any well known means such as a gear 37 may be utilized for rotating thehead 29. Longitudinal pressure on the head may be caused by an endthrust bearing as suitably actuated for the purpose, and includingpreferably an expansion coil spring 38a whereby a resilient pressure ismaintained for uniform spinning action. It will benoted that rotary andaxial force may be simultaneously applied. Moreover, due to theapplication of axial pressure on the stem 32, the pin 3l is outwardlyprojected under a desired force and a pressure simultaneously exerted onthe hemispherical end of the neck portion. As the ridge 17 is beingformed the pin 31 moves outward from the head 29, andthe stem 32 movesdownward while rotating. Hence the neck portion -is .the end 13 recedefrom the end18 of the cap.

After the spinning operation is completed the head 29 may be withdrawn,the stem 32 moving upward relatively thereto, and the pin 31 backing upinto its head.

In fact, I have found in actual practise that a portion of the neck 12,such as 39 shownin Fig. 8, `may-in course of the spinning operation beforced slightly into the opening 20 in the cap. :This will happen to animperforate part of the neck that will be adjacent to said opening, andthe degree of such projection may be extremely slight, but suilicient tocause -a very ,tight seal. .The posi` tion of the part 39 is such thatevery time that the cap is closed, the part 39 comes into registry withthe opening 2q of the cap. The base 11a may thereafter be suitablyfastened to the device 10.

Expansion mayfalso be caused by the action of hydraulic pressure or byinserting a yielding'l or resilient sliead of any suitable material suchas rubber the -neck 12 and exerting pressure thereon. ,In order to limitthe expansion at. the bulge portion 39, the same may be 'suitably backedup externally in any desired manner, as by placing an obstacle at theopening 20 ofthe cap. and extending thereinto or-fiush with the beveledsurface at 21. Thus the bulge may have the shape of a spherical segmentor it may be in the nature loi? a shallow cylindrical projection as maybe desired,thelatterbeingadaptedtobeshearedoff (ifi4 by the cap orotherwise removed as by a pushing action of the cap on rotation thereofto form a port to replace the port 19. If desired the head 30 may be ofslightly oblate form at 39a to increase the size of the bulge 39.

In Fig. 9 is shown-an embodiment 40 exemplifying a diierent applicationof the expansible tool and the method of making closures', as moreparticularly described inv my application, Serial No. 639,803, filedOctober 27, 1932. In this case, a shank 40 having a head 41 of rubber orother elastic material is used. If rubber is used, the same may be ofany required hardness consistent with the work to be performed. Thishead may be secured to or molded around a headed end 42 of the shank.`The cap 43 which may be strong and rugged may consist of metal,bakelite, or the like. It may have an opening 43a and an internalannular recess 44. Upon inserting the tool 41 and exerting pressurethereon at vthe shoulder 45 of the shank, an annular ridgev 46 is,outwardly pressed in the soft metal of the collapsible tube neck 47.Simultaneously, a bulge such as 39 may or may not `be formed, dependingon whether the neck is externally supported at the opening 43a. Ifsuiiicient expansive pressure be exerted, a closed endedprojection 48may be forced from the neck into the opening 43, which projection shallhave walls of such thinness as to be readily pushed or sheared o by thecap on rotating the same after removal of the tool. If the projection 48were preformed, the neck and closure would nevertheless acquire auidtight seating engagement while being simultaneously attached to thetube neck, and allowance being thusautomatically eiected for possibleirregularities in the size or shape of the cap.

It will be understood that the head 41 may be of regular substantiallyhemispherical contour as in the case of head 30, and that the bulges at49 and 50 are produced solely by the yield of the neck against thecap.However, in view of the elastic quality of the head 41, the shapethereoi may vary from the internal lcontour of the cap, and yet'functionefficiently for the intended purpose.

vIt will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may bemade in the device as shown in the drawing, and that the same issubmitted in an illustrative and not in a hunting sense, the scope ofthe invention being defined in the following claims. i

I claim: A

1 The method of making a container having a rotary type valve capmounted on a tubular element having a portion for control of an openingin the cap, including the step of expansively spinninga toolsubstantially rotatably tted in said tubular element so as to expand aportion of the element into engagement with an internal undercut in thecap, and simultaneously causing the element in the region of saidportion to expand into snug fitting nonleaking rotatable engagement withsaid cap.

2. The method of making a container having a rotary type valve' capmounted on a ductile tubular element having a circular concaved end walland a portion adapted to form therewith a registeringl valve opening,including the step of yieldably pressing and spinning an expansible toolrotatably tted in the end wall of said tubular element so as -to expandthe element at said portion into uniformly snug circular engagement withthe corresponding part of the cap and with an undercut in the cap toprevent disengagement of the latter.

3. The method of rotatably securing on a tubular element a cap having awall provided with an opening communicable with an opening to be formedin the element, which includes subjecting said wall including theportion thereof atsaid opening to pressure against the correspondingwall of the cap and simultaneously yieldably laterally expanding saidelement into snug tting rotary engagement with the cap.

4. The method of making a closure having a plurality of hollow membersjournaled upon one another and having opening portions adapted toregister with each other, which includes positioning the members in snuguniform engagement with each other, and yieldably pressing the walls ofthe members against each other so as to cause a wall portion of one of'the members to bulge into the opening of the other member. 5. Theherein described method of securing and rotatably iitting on the neck ofa collapsible tube a cap closure having a recess, which includesinternally expanding the neck to snugly t the internal contour of thecap and expanding a portion of said neck into said recess.

6.'The herein described method of rotatably fitting on the neck of acollapsible tube a cap closure having an opening, which includesyieldably expanding the cross sectional area of the neck to tthe cap andsimultaneously forming a projection on the neck extending into saidopening.

7. 'I'he method of making a collapsible tube Aclosure having a softmetal tubular neck with an end dome shaped wall therefor, a caprotatably fitted thereon and having an eccentric part adapted to controlan opening in the neck, which method includesthe use .of a rubber pistonhead for internallyuniformly expanding the .transverse area of the neckand simultaneously yieldably pressing said end wall of the neck snuglyagainst the corresponding wall of the cap, for effecting a snug rotaryseating engagement between the side and end walls of the neck and capabout said part.

8. 'I'he herein described method of making a tight rotary seatingengagement along a hemispherical surface between a collapsible tube neckand a closure cap therefor which includes uniformly continuouslyinternally expanding the neck in a yielding manner along thehemispherical surface for liquid tight engagement at said seatingsurface.`

9. The method of rotatably securing a cap on a tubular element having anend wall provided with an opening communicable with an opening of thecap, which includes subjecting said end wall including the openingportion thereof to pressure against the corresponding wall of the capand simultaneously laterally expanding said element into snug fittingrotary engagement with the cap.

10. The method of forming a sealing relation between a tubular ductilemember and a rigid cap member joumaled thereon, whichmembers havesimilar concave end walls provided with out- .let openings, said methodincluding interiorly f" so 11. The herein described method of rotatablysecuring on the pliable neck of a collapsible tube a nonpliable caphaving an annular recess coaxial with the neck and cap and the latterhaving a seeming on the pliable neck of a collapsible tube v anonpl'iable cap having an annular recess coaxial With the neck andl capand the latter having a normal snug seating movable assembly relationwith the neck, including subjecting said neck in the assembly relationthereof with thecap, to an internal expansive pressure to press out fromthe neck an externalrib projecting into said recess in tted relationthereto, and simultaneously causing the pressure soexerted to be of ayielding character so that the rib and recess finally possess arelativelymovable operative relation and snug fittinginterengagement-continuous with the snug seating between the "cap andneck.

JAMES P. BURKE.

